A U.S. regulator stated on Tuesday it would start an investigation into an off-road utility vehicle produced by Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd after a complaint by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV that it infringed upon the intellectual property rights of its Jeep design.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) stated that it was starting a patent-related investigation into the Indian automaker’s ROXOR vehicle.
The ITC noted complaint was associated with the import and sale in the United States of certain motorized vehicles and parts that Fiat Chrysler had alleged infringed on its trademarks. The agency stated it would consider finishing its investigation under 45 days.
The ITC has pointed it will start an investigation of Fiat Chrysler’s complaint and that it is also going to be conducting a 100-day expedited consideration of the 2009 agreement and its impact on the investigation, stated Rich Ansell, vice president of marketing, Mahindra Automotive North America.
Fiat Chrysler could not be reached for comment at the time.
In the previous month, Mahindra stated that Fiat Chrysler had submitted a patent violation complaint with the ITC against the company and treated the complaint without merit.
Mahindra stated that it and its North American unit had submitted a public interest statement with the ITC and had begun proceedings in a Michigan court to impose a design agreement that it had executed with Fiat Chrysler in 2009.
Mahindra was looking for an injunction against Fiat Chrysler from proceeding with the complaint, it included.
Fiat Chrysler had not made a monetary claim in the complaint but was looking to block Mahindra Automotive from importing any components into the United States that infringe upon Fiat Chrysler’s intellectual property rights, it stated.
